- 3 hours ago
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has escalated, with President Donald Trump threatening to Iran "very hard tonight" and to seize major Iranian oil and gas facilities, including the strategically significant Kharg Island.
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00:01Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savan.
00:05Big story coming in, the U.S. president has threatened Iran with new military strikes.
00:12President Donald Trump says the United States will hit Iran tonight.
00:17The U.S. will hit Iran tonight very hard, according to the American president.
00:23He insists Iran's military capabilities have already been severely weakened.
00:29In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said the U.S. will move to seize control of major Iranian
00:37oil and gas facilities,
00:38including the Khark Island, in the future, much like it had done in Venezuela.
00:45President Trump wrote, and I quote,
00:49At some point in the not-too-distant future, we will be taking Khark Island and other oil infrastructure points
00:57and assume total control of their oil and gas markets, much like we have with Venezuela.
01:04Minutes after the post, President Trump reiterated his desire to seize the Khark Island
01:10in an exclusive interview to a television network channel in the United States.
01:14He said, we are talking to them, but my preference has always been to take Khark Island, quote-unquote.
01:24Since this conflict started, that's the 28th of February this year,
01:28President Trump has repeatedly set his sights on the Khark Island,
01:32a very small but strategically very, very significant island just off the mainland of Iran in the Persian Gulf.
01:41Khark Island, incidentally, is the backbone of Iran's oil trade,
01:47handling the vast majority of the country's crude exports.
01:52Let me give you some more details of the Khark Island that handles around 2 million barrels of oil.
01:58That's the kind of oil that Khark Island handles.
02:02So, from where oil is pumped to where it's stored for transportation,
02:08that's that nerve center, the Khark Island that America now wants to take control of.
02:13They, incidentally, have already bombed the military installations on Khark Island in the past,
02:18but very recently, the United States has bombed the Qasham Island and multiple other locations.
02:25Iran, in retaliation, targeted U.S. warships and U.S. assets in the Gulf region,
02:32whether it's Bahrain or Kuwait or even Jordan.
02:35And Iran's claim that it has hit U.S. Air Force F-35 lighting aircraft and hangers
02:41and other military infrastructure.
02:44And this war looks all set to escalate.
02:48Let me get you more on our top story.
02:51The United States military has attacked three vessels off the coast of Oman in the last three days.
02:57All three were carrying Indian sailors.
03:00The three vessels were attacked in operations by the U.S. in the Gulf of Oman.
03:06Three Indian sailors on board were killed in one of the attacks.
03:11Now, the merchant vessel, Maruwex, that was struck earlier today.
03:18Today, soon after it was confirmed, once the deaths were confirmed,
03:22a third tanker, M.T. Jalveer, was also targeted.
03:26And all Indian crew members on board, they've been rescued.
03:30But three sailors on board in the first ship, who were earlier declared missing,
03:36sadly, have now been declared dead.
03:39We'll get you more details on this show.
03:41We'll also track how, after the U.S. completed the second day of strikes in Iran,
03:46Tehran carried out retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. bases across the region.
03:51Air defenses were activated in Kuwait, in Jordan and in Bahrain.
03:56Iran claims its strike hit U.S. F-35s,
04:00the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, F-15s and F-16s.
04:04And that 12 ballistic missiles were fired specifically at the Al-Azraq base and control center.
04:13And a large number of U.S. fighter jets were destroyed in this missile attack.
04:17Now, in the second night of strikes, U.S. military launched attacks against multiple targets in Iran,
04:22saying the strikes were in self-defense.
04:25The U.S. actually released a video of, as you see on your television screen,
04:30that's a Tomahawk cruise missile.
04:31There could be seen fire of USS Michael Murphy.
04:36Explosions were heard across Iran, including in locations near the Strait of Hormuz.
04:43Iranian media reported numerous attacks in multiple locations,
04:47including the port city of Bandar Abbas in Qashem Island
04:50and the southern towns of Sirik and Minab.
04:54And, of course, Karaj in the west of Tehran.
04:57So, Iran's foreign ministry has condemned these U.S. strikes,
05:01saying it had rendered the ceasefire practically meaningless.
05:07I want to get you much more on this huge story.
05:12But what impacts India, and adversely, is Indian sailors being targeted in these strikes.
05:21Three days, three ships.
05:23Sadly, three Indian sailors have lost their lives.
05:27All these attacks, it appears, were linked.
05:31There were attacks off the coast of Oman.
05:34The U.S. continues to enforce the blockade in the Iran-linked shipping lanes.
05:41So, three Indian sailors have been killed in these U.S. military operations.
05:46Soon after the deaths were confirmed, M.T. Jalvir, that was carrying 20 Indian crew members,
05:53that too was targeted.
05:55The Marivex was also struck earlier this week.
05:58Now, that was carrying 24 Indian sailors.
06:01All 24 have been rescued.
06:03The Ministry of External Affairs gave out a statement saying the U.S. Sharia Affairs
06:08was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs over these repeated attacks
06:12because these attacks have been deeply worrisome.
06:16Serious questions are now being raised about the safety of Indian sailors
06:19in one of the most volatile shipping lanes in the world.
06:24We'll get you more in this report.
06:54On the Palao flag tanker, M.T. Setebello, and are now confirmed dead.
06:59The other 21 of the 24 crew members on board have been rescued.
07:04The deceased sailors have been identified as Aditya Sharma,
07:09Shivanan Chaurasya, and Patnala Suresh.
07:33Setebello, and Setebello, and Setebello, and Setebello,
07:46The M.T. Setebello is only one of the many vessels attacked as part of Washington's moves
07:52to enforce its blockade on Iran-linked shipping.
07:56On Monday, U.S. forces hit M.T. Marivex,
08:00also a Palao-flagged oil tanker with Indian crew, in the Gulf of Oman.
08:05All 24 Indian seafarers were rescued.
08:07Then, the attack on M.T. Setebello saw the first deaths reported
08:11since the blockade began on April 13th.
08:14And soon after the confirmed deaths,
08:16another India-linked vessel, M.T. Jalvir,
08:19has been targeted off the coast of Oman.
08:21It had 20 Indian crew members on board,
08:24and they have all been confirmed safe.
08:27Sina's port control, this is a message from Jalvir,
08:30that all crew are safe.
08:31They are in Foxal, and they have a huge fire in the Indian room.
08:35The External Affairs Ministry has summoned
08:38the U.S.-charged D-Affairs
08:40in condemnation of the repeated incidents
08:42and urged an end to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
08:47We condemned the attack on a ship off the coast of Oman,
08:51in which, unfortunately, we lost three Indian nationals.
08:55We had summoned the U.S. CDA here
08:59to register a strong protest.
09:01These attacks must cease and end,
09:04and we also call for dialogue and diplomacy
09:07so that we can have an early return
09:08to peace and stability in the region.
09:11Amid escalating tensions in West Asia,
09:14the attacks have intensified questions
09:16over maritime security in the region
09:18and the growing risk on commercial shipping.
09:21With Shivani Sharma, Bureau Report, India Today.
09:28Let's try and make sense of these latest developments,
09:31especially this claim by U.S. President Donald Trump
09:34that tonight Iran will be hit
09:36and the aim is to take control of Khark Island.
09:39He's made these threats in the past.
09:41Is this threat any different?
09:44Michael Patrick Mulroy is former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
09:48of State Defense.
09:49He's worked with the CIA, is a former U.S. Marine.
09:52He joins us on this broadcast.
09:53Sandeep Unnitan is senior journalist.
09:55He's been tracking developments on the Iran front
09:57very, very closely.
09:59Patrick Mulroy, your reading of what President Trump
10:03has just put out on Truth Social,
10:06will that threat be carried out tonight?
10:08Is this threat any different from threats made in the past, sir?
10:14It's good to be with you, my fellow guests in your audience.
10:17That's a good question.
10:18We've seen President Trump make a lot of threats,
10:21some pretty hyperbolic, like destroying the civilization.
10:24But I do think what is real here
10:27is he's very frustrated with the progress of negotiations.
10:31From his perspective, the Iranians are asking for things
10:34they know that the United States can't do.
10:36We can't give them sanctions release and unfreeze assets
10:39for simply opening the Strait of Hormuz,
10:41which they don't own.
10:43And, of course, they demand regional peace,
10:47but they do nothing to stop Hezbollah from attacking Israel.
10:50So from the U.S. perspective,
10:52this was not preferred,
10:54but the resumption of strikes,
10:57although it's episodic,
10:58was to push them back toward the negotiation table.
11:02And I think by saying that we're going to strike tonight,
11:06by saying that we're going to take Cargilland,
11:09he's basically signaling that this isn't over,
11:12that this is going to keep escalating
11:14until there's a change in perspective.
11:16Now, I'm sure plenty of people in the Pentagon
11:18would prefer that the president not announce
11:21that strikes are going to happen
11:22or that we're going to take Cargilland
11:24for the purposes of surprise.
11:26But I think he's using it as a tactic
11:28to threaten Iran so that they come back to the table.
11:31But like all threats,
11:33there needs to be substance behind it
11:35or eventually your adversaries
11:37simply won't listen to you.
11:39You know, because then he sounds like
11:40the man who cries wolf.
11:42The number of times he's said,
11:44so, Sandeep, that we're going to attack tonight.
11:46We're going to wipe out the civilization.
11:48Iran will feel sorry.
11:50You know, he's said a lot.
11:51On ground, it does appear,
11:54the U.S. with its three aircraft carrier battle groups
11:57and at one point of time,
11:58four aircraft carrier battle groups in the area
12:00wasn't even able to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
12:03And that's because of that very crucial choke point
12:06that Iran continues to dominate.
12:08So the world's biggest superpower
12:11or the world's two biggest air powers
12:14don't seem to be getting Iran to the talks table at all.
12:19Iran seems to have the upper hand.
12:20Is this threat any different
12:22or will Donald Trump no longer be taken seriously, Sandeep?
12:26Well, Gaurav, we've seen President Trump
12:29make these threats in the past
12:30and I kind of agree with what Patrick just said
12:32that these are bargaining tactics.
12:35He's trying to get a deal out of the Iranians
12:37and the Iranians are clearly not in any great hurry
12:40with the way they have stretched out these talks
12:43over the last couple of weeks now.
12:46And clearly, President Trump sees a looming deadline
12:50in front of him, which is the 4th of July, 2026, Gaurav.
12:54Less than a month from now,
12:56the United States will be celebrating
12:58its 250th anniversary of its independence.
13:01And the last thing that President Trump
13:03wants to see the United States in
13:06is an unwinnable war of the kind
13:08that's facing him in the Straits of Hormuz.
13:12And that is one of the reasons,
13:14that is possibly one of the reasons
13:15why he's running out of patience
13:17and he's been threatening to, you know,
13:19wipe out the civilization
13:20and knock out the Iranians
13:21and inflict unimaginable punishment on them.
13:25America is running out of time.
13:27Trump particularly is running out of time, Gaurav.
13:30He has not got any of those big wins
13:32that he wanted when they went into this war
13:35on the 28th of February.
13:36The Iranians are pretty cool customers.
13:39If you look at it,
13:40the way they have been carrying out,
13:42stretching these negotiations,
13:43they've lost their Navy,
13:45they've lost their Air Force.
13:46But as you said, Gaurav,
13:47the Iranians have mastered choke point warfare.
13:50And all of those things
13:52that we've been talking over
13:53the last couple of weeks
13:54all points to the fact that Iran
13:56doesn't care if it doesn't have an Air Force
13:59or a Navy or as long as it has
14:01its ballistic missiles,
14:02its drones,
14:03its ability to influence actions
14:05across the entire Persian Gulf
14:08and the Arabian Peninsula
14:09with the missiles, drones.
14:10In fact, on the choke point warfare,
14:14Michael Mulroy,
14:15Iran seems to be having an upper hand
14:17despite President Trump saying that,
14:19you know,
14:20we are closing the Strait of Hormuz.
14:23All they seem to be doing
14:25is targeting ships
14:27that are not a part of the war.
14:29And this, frankly,
14:31is a war crime,
14:32what President Trump
14:33or the U.S. Navy is doing.
14:35Three Indian sailors have been killed.
14:36Other sailors have been targeted.
14:38India has no role in this conflict.
14:40And our sailors are dying.
14:41This is completely uncalled for
14:44what President Trump is doing.
14:45Is this American frustration
14:47that they're not winning?
14:49This may end up being another
14:51Vietnam and Afghanistan for them.
14:55Yes, I mean,
14:56it's very frustrating
14:57for somebody who was in the military.
14:58We have the most powerful military
15:00on the planet.
15:01I think everybody,
15:02even our adversaries,
15:03would agree with that.
15:04But we somehow can't come up
15:06with policies
15:06that actually end conflicts
15:09in our favor.
15:11I don't think it's because
15:12of the military.
15:13It's because of the decisions, right?
15:15So we went into this war,
15:17an air war,
15:18trying to remove a regime.
15:20It's never happened.
15:21There's never been a war won
15:23by air power alone,
15:24even with the most significant
15:25air force in the world.
15:27And obviously,
15:28the regime isn't going anywhere.
15:29As far as the blockade,
15:31I mean, it is an act of war
15:33when you do a naval blockade.
15:36If done correctly,
15:37it will have an economic impact
15:39on the regime,
15:40but it's going to take a long time.
15:42And to be done correctly,
15:44certainly no civilians
15:45should be killed in the process.
15:48Innocent civilians
15:49should be excluded,
15:51obviously, as combatants
15:52in any conflict.
15:53So I would hope
15:54there's an investigation
15:55on how that would happen
15:56and to ensure
15:57it doesn't happen again
15:58and hold people responsible
15:59if there's any kind of,
16:01you know, culpability there.
16:02But the United States
16:03has to be very careful
16:04with this.
16:05I mean, obviously,
16:05Iran isn't being careful.
16:07They're just shooting directly
16:08at the actual crew of ships.
16:11The U.S. way of doing it
16:13is to take shots
16:15at the engine room, right?
16:16So it disables the ship
16:17after they refuse to pull over.
16:19But that's the, you know,
16:20how the U.S. conducts
16:22a blockade.
16:23But certainly,
16:23there should be investigation.
16:24But the broader issue is,
16:25how does this come to an end
16:27if we're not willing
16:28to use ground troops,
16:29which we're not?
16:30I mean, that would,
16:31the popularity of the war
16:33is already, you know,
16:34around 20%.
16:35If we interjected
16:38ground troops into this,
16:40it's going to be zero, zero.
16:42So he's likely going to make
16:43that decision very carefully
16:45because that would be
16:46a major escalation
16:47in the eyes of the American people.
16:49And Khark Island
16:50is the new threat, Sandeep.
16:53He's made this threat before.
16:55U.S. forces have bombed
16:56the airfield and military installations
16:58on Khark Island
16:59and Iran said,
17:00bring it on.
17:00We'll take you if you dare
17:02come at ground troops.
17:03And President Trump,
17:04you know,
17:05as Michael Mulroy
17:06very rightly pointed out,
17:08would hesitate
17:09to come at ground troops.
17:10Their Apache was shot down.
17:11And this just goes on
17:13to indicate that this war
17:14is entering perhaps
17:15a very dangerous phase.
17:17It is indeed, Gaurav.
17:19If President Trump,
17:20you know,
17:21acts on that threat
17:22to seize Khark Island,
17:23there's only one way
17:24to seize Khark Island, Gaurav.
17:26And we've discussed this
17:26in scenarios on your show
17:28in the last couple of months.
17:30You have to deploy troops,
17:32you know,
17:33boots on ground.
17:34And boots on ground,
17:35in this context,
17:37Gaurav translates into BOG.
17:39That's the kind of quicksand
17:41that you would not want
17:42to get into.
17:42And that is exactly how
17:44the U.S. stumbled into the war
17:46in Vietnam.
17:46And it ended up,
17:48you know,
17:48fighting there for nearly
17:49two decades.
17:50And you have President Trump
17:52who came to office
17:53promising not to start
17:55any more unwinable wars,
17:57that he would be the president
17:58who would not launch a new war.
18:01He's the only president
18:01who's not done that
18:02in the 21st century.
18:03He said that.
18:04But now he's not only someone
18:06who's initiated a war,
18:07but he seems to be one
18:09who doesn't have a way
18:11out of this conflict.
18:12It's an unending war.
18:14And he is possibly looking
18:15at a strategic defeat.
18:17He's trying to get a deal
18:18that could make the U.S.
18:20pull out of that
18:21with its honor intact.
18:22That isn't happening.
18:23So therefore,
18:24you're seeing all of these threats
18:25on Khark Island,
18:27which we've seen in the past
18:28as well, Gaurav.
18:29But, you know,
18:29without boots on ground again,
18:31it's impossible to make
18:33that threat,
18:33you know,
18:35come true.
18:36And the bigger fear,
18:38Michael Mulroy,
18:39is one choke point,
18:42which is the state of Hormuz.
18:45That's in trouble.
18:46And I want to show our viewers
18:47that map.
18:48The threat now
18:49is even at Bab al-Mandab,
18:51extending all the way
18:51up to Suez Canal.
18:53A global economy
18:54will be in tailspin
18:55should that happen.
18:56And Iran shows
18:57absolutely no sign
18:59of buckling under pressure.
19:00Iran is targeting
19:01U.S. interests
19:02in Bahrain,
19:03in Jordan,
19:03in Kuwait.
19:04Do you fear
19:05an expansion of war
19:07in the days ahead,
19:08especially with threats
19:09at the state of Hormuz
19:10now extending
19:11to Bab al-Mandab?
19:14Yes,
19:15this is something
19:15that many analysts
19:16have been looking for.
19:17The others
19:18should have dropped,
19:19so to speak.
19:20The Houthis,
19:21of course,
19:22have proven
19:22that they have
19:23not only the capacity,
19:25but the willingness
19:25to challenge
19:26the free flow
19:27of commerce
19:28through the Red Sea
19:29and the Bab al-Mandab,
19:30and they could reach
19:31the Suez Canal.
19:33So as you can see,
19:34that would just
19:35really exacerbate
19:36the very issue
19:37that Iran is using
19:38as leverage,
19:39which is economic
19:40war of attrition.
19:42So they could increase
19:43the capacity
19:45of their ally here,
19:48the Houthis,
19:48to target,
19:49and that would be
19:51big problems
19:52for the United States.
19:53We'd see oil and gas
19:55go up even further.
19:56There's several other things
19:58that we don't talk about
19:58as often because maybe
20:00they're not as crucial
20:01as energy,
20:02but things like nitrogen
20:03used to make fertilizer
20:05that is obviously key
20:06in food production,
20:07all of this stuff
20:08is going to start
20:09catching up.
20:10It hasn't had
20:11the major impact.
20:12It has had an impact,
20:13but it hasn't had
20:14the impact that it will have
20:15the longer this goes on.
20:17And certainly,
20:17if they can close
20:19the Bab al-Mandab,
20:20this is going to escalate
20:22even further.
20:23And we might get
20:24to a point where
20:25the U.S. feels like
20:26they have to insert
20:26ground forces,
20:28but that would be,
20:29again,
20:29a very significant choice.
20:32And this is all happening
20:33at the time
20:33when the U.S. president
20:35has taken
20:36the conflict itself
20:37beyond the 60 days
20:38that then requires
20:40congressional approval
20:41under the War Powers Act.
20:43So we're already past that,
20:45and we're obviously
20:45not in a ceasefire.
20:47So this is going to be
20:49more and more challenged
20:50the further it goes on,
20:51not just by the Democrats,
20:53of course,
20:53but by several members
20:55of the Republican Party
20:56who see no strategy
20:57to end this
20:57and have the option
20:59to essentially
21:00stop funding the conflict.
21:02The last 30 seconds
21:03that I have on this part
21:04of the show, Sandeep,
21:05there is no solution.
21:07You know,
21:07America seems to be
21:08walking into this crisis
21:10eyes wide shut.
21:11Do you think it will escalate
21:13in the days and weeks ahead?
21:15It all depends
21:16on what President Trump
21:18wants, Gaurav.
21:19And clearly,
21:20he's someone
21:20who's caught in a quandary.
21:22Like I said,
21:23he hasn't achieved
21:23any of his war aims
21:25that he set out
21:26to achieve
21:27on the 28th of February.
21:28And here's the point,
21:29Gaurav,
21:30you know,
21:31technology cannot
21:32substitute strategy.
21:34You can have
21:35all the best missiles
21:36and AI-driven robots
21:39and warships
21:40and, you know,
21:40carrier battle groups
21:41in the world,
21:42but if you don't have
21:43a strategy in place,
21:44if you premise
21:45your entire strategy,
21:47war-fighting strategy
21:48on the fact that
21:48Iran will not do
21:50things like
21:50shut the Strait of Hormuz,
21:52then you're bound to fail
21:53and that's exactly
21:54what's happened
21:55out over here, Gaurav.
21:56The fact that
21:57you did not think
21:58that Iran would block
21:59the Strait of Hormuz
21:59is what has landed
22:01not just the United States,
22:02Gaurav,
22:03but also the entire world
22:05into this quandary, Gaurav.
22:07That world's in tailspin
22:08and God forbid,
22:09it could go from bad to worse
22:11because it's not just
22:12about oil and gas,
22:14it's also about fertilizers,
22:16it's also about movement
22:17of goods and services
22:20through one choke point,
22:21which is the Strait of Hormuz,
22:24the second,
22:24which is Bab al-Mandab.
22:27I want to thank
22:28Mr. Mulroy and Sandeep
22:30for joining me
22:30because up next
22:31we'll actually talk about
22:32the third choke point
22:33that India wants
22:36to keep an eye on
22:37and that's the Malacca Strait.
22:38So while we're talking
22:39about the Strait of Hormuz
22:39and the threats to Bab al-Mandab,
22:41the next focus of our show
22:43is that vital shipping
22:44choke point closer
22:45to Indian territory,
22:47that's the Strait of Malacca.
22:49That's India's core interest
22:50in the Strait of Malacca.
22:51Now if you see,
22:52even if there's a superior power,
22:54but you dominate a choke point,
22:56that is why
22:57your comprehensive national power
22:59must be in a position
23:02to dominate choke points.
23:04A geopolitical leverage
23:05over the world's busiest choke points
23:07through the Andaman
23:08and Nicobar Islands,
23:09India maintains
23:10a forward operating position
23:12to monitor
23:1230% of global trade
23:14and 80%
23:15of China's
23:17energy imports
23:18that pass through
23:19this corridor.
23:20And that is why
23:21you have another
23:22very big project,
23:23the Great Nicobar Island project
23:25that's in the eye
23:26of a storm.
23:28A geostrategic project.
23:30It's a reflection
23:32of India's comprehensive
23:33national power,
23:34but there are critics
23:35of this project
23:36who say
23:36this is a scam.
23:38Is it a scam
23:40or is there a conspiracy
23:41to derail India's development?
23:44The Great Nicobar Island project
23:46is hailed
23:47as a strategic game changer
23:50by the strategic community,
23:51but it's criticized
23:54as destruction
23:55couched as development
23:57by those
23:58who are opposed to it.
23:59With us
24:00on this special broadcast
24:02is Admiral D.K. Joshi,
24:04the Lieutenant Governor
24:05of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
24:07the Vice Chairperson
24:08of the Island Development Agency
24:10and the former Chief
24:12of Naval Staff
24:13who was then
24:14also earlier
24:15the Andaman and Nicobar
24:16commander.
24:18So, sir,
24:19you know
24:20this area
24:21like the back of your hand.
24:23You're a very good
24:24diver yourself.
24:25I want to understand
24:27from you
24:27when you see
24:28all this criticism
24:29of the Great Nicobar
24:30Island project
24:31for the benefit
24:32of our viewers,
24:33what is this project?
24:34What will it do
24:35for our country?
24:37I'm certain
24:40neither you
24:41nor your
24:43viewers
24:44need a primer
24:45on the strategic relevance
24:46of
24:47the Great Nicobar Island
24:49which
24:49in any case
24:50cannot be seen
24:52in isolation
24:53as so many projects
24:54on one island.
24:55it is part of
24:57the overall
24:57construct of
24:58the Andaman and Nicobar
25:00chain of islands
25:01which occupy
25:03a strategic
25:04geospace
25:05and it's a blessing
25:06in terms of
25:07what geography
25:08has given us
25:10within
25:11handshake distance
25:12of Indonesia,
25:14Malaysia,
25:14Thailand,
25:15Myanmar to the north.
25:17Although
25:17almost
25:181500 kilometers
25:19away from
25:20the east coast
25:21of India itself,
25:22Delhi is 2600 kilometers,
25:24it is what has
25:25been described
25:26separately as
25:27the unsinkable
25:28aircraft carrier
25:29and so on and so forth.
25:31So it is of vital
25:33importance to us
25:34and
25:36the
25:38sort of neglect
25:39of the initial
25:40decades
25:40is being now
25:42addressed
25:42and
25:44therefore
25:44what
25:45a blessing
25:46of geography
25:47how it can be
25:48turned into
25:49a leverage.
25:50there is a live
25:51demonstration
25:51going on
25:52to your west
25:53in the immediate
25:54time frame.
25:55I am certain
25:56you understand
25:57that and so
25:57do your viewers.
25:59But those
26:00who say
26:01that this is
26:02destruction
26:02couched as
26:04development
26:04and specifically
26:06about
26:07the transshipment
26:08port that's
26:09coming up
26:09at the Galatia Bay,
26:11is that
26:12required?
26:13Because there are
26:13some critics
26:14who say
26:15that when you
26:16already have
26:17a deep sea
26:17port that's
26:18coming up
26:19or is there
26:20at
26:21Viringam
26:22in Kerala,
26:24then why
26:25would you need
26:26one at
26:27Great Nicobar
26:28Island?
26:29Well,
26:29okay,
26:29there are
26:30ports
26:30and
26:32the proposed
26:33container
26:35transshipment
26:36port in
26:36GNI
26:37is not
26:38really to
26:39address
26:40only our
26:41port
26:41requirements.
26:42It's
26:43to give you
26:44an example.
26:45The then
26:46Bangladesh
26:46High Commissioner
26:47some time
26:48ago came
26:49and called
26:49on me
26:50and he
26:51said that
26:51the major
26:52export from
26:53his country
26:53are garments,
26:55the garment
26:55industry of
26:56Bangladesh.
26:58And his
26:59containerized
27:00consignments
27:01sail all the
27:03way past
27:04the A&M
27:05chain of
27:05islands,
27:06pass under
27:07our nose
27:07in GNI
27:08and these
27:09are the ones
27:10finally destined
27:11to North
27:11Europe and
27:12the North
27:13American
27:13countries.
27:14And instead
27:15of turning
27:15west,
27:15they turn
27:16east,
27:17transit the
27:17entire
27:18Malacca
27:18Strait,
27:19go to
27:19Singapore,
27:20get transship
27:21there onto
27:21larger
27:22container
27:22ship,
27:23sail all
27:24the way
27:24back here,
27:25again pass
27:25under our
27:25nose in
27:26GNI and
27:27then proceed
27:27onwards
27:28through
27:28to the
27:29European
27:29countries
27:30and
27:30North
27:30European
27:30countries.
27:31And he
27:32himself
27:32said,
27:32sir,
27:33the moment
27:33this comes
27:34up,
27:34look at
27:35the cost
27:35and time
27:36savings
27:36that will
27:37accrue
27:37to us.
27:38And the
27:39similar
27:39rationale
27:40applies to
27:41the western
27:42ports of
27:43Thailand,
27:44of Malaysia,
27:45north western
27:45ports of
27:46Indonesia.
27:47So that is
27:48where the
27:48relevance of
27:49a port has
27:49to be seen.
27:50It is not,
27:51no port is
27:52intended to
27:52address just
27:53one specific
27:54need.
27:56And from
27:57the strategic
27:58point of
27:59view,
27:59so I'll
27:59come to
28:00the commercial
28:00aspect and
28:01I'll come to
28:01the strategic
28:02aspect.
28:02You mentioned
28:03that this is
28:04like an
28:04unsinkable
28:05aircraft carrier,
28:06the Andavan
28:07and Nicobar
28:07Islands.
28:09Where
28:11these islands
28:12are,
28:12including the
28:13Great Nicobar
28:13Island,
28:14including
28:14INS
28:15Bars,
28:16what does
28:17that mean
28:18for the
28:19strategic
28:19choke points
28:20and in
28:20today's
28:21day and
28:21age,
28:22like you
28:22mentioned,
28:23sir,
28:23we don't
28:23need to
28:23tell anybody
28:24the significance
28:25of a
28:25choke point
28:26like the
28:26Strait of
28:27Hormuz
28:27and Babal
28:28Mandab.
28:28Is this
28:29as significant
28:30if not
28:31more for
28:31us?
28:32Well,
28:33I would
28:33suggest that
28:34it is
28:34infinitely
28:35more
28:35significant
28:36given
28:37the
28:37fact
28:37that
28:38the
28:39chain
28:39of
28:40Andavan
28:40Nicobar
28:41Islands
28:42in terms
28:42of
28:43land
28:43area
28:43total
28:44is
28:45bigger
28:45than
28:46few
28:46of
28:46the
28:46states
28:47on
28:47the
28:47mainland
28:47put
28:48together.
28:49It's
28:50a
28:50chain
28:50of
28:50836
28:52islands
28:52which
28:53along the
28:54north-south
28:54axis
28:55spread for
28:55something like
28:56750 kilometers.
28:59And therefore,
29:00the number of
29:01ports,
29:02the number of
29:02airports that you
29:03can have on this
29:04territory
29:06impact on the
29:07strategic scenario
29:09in a very,
29:09very significant
29:10manner.
29:14one aspect
29:16that appears
29:16to have been
29:17a very
29:18recent
29:18development
29:19is that
29:19the
29:21Isthmus of
29:22Thera canal
29:23which had been
29:24talked about
29:24for years,
29:26very recently
29:26a decision
29:27has been
29:28taken to
29:29now build
29:29a land
29:30bridge
29:30across it.
29:31So it will
29:31on the
29:32Andaman
29:32Sea side
29:33there will
29:34be one
29:34port
29:34and on
29:35the
29:35Gulf of
29:36Thailand
29:36side
29:37there will
29:37be
29:37another
29:38port
29:38Trangong
29:38and Chupfog
29:39respectively
29:40and that
29:41stretches
29:41only about
29:4245 kilometers
29:43across which
29:44there will
29:45be multi-lane
29:46train tracks
29:48onto which
29:50containerized
29:50cargo will
29:51be shifted
29:51there will
29:52be pipelines
29:53for oil,
29:55gas and
29:56other POL
29:57products
29:57there will
29:58be multi-lane
29:58highways
29:59there will
29:59be a
30:00digital
30:00highway
30:00for with
30:01fiber optics
30:02etc.
30:03etc.
30:03And if
30:04you extend
30:05this,
30:06this is all
30:06along the
30:0710th parallel
30:07if you extend
30:08it eastwards
30:09South China
30:10Sea is
30:11just around
30:12300 kilometers
30:12so South
30:14China Sea
30:15moment this
30:15gets operationalized
30:17it will be
30:17300 kilometers
30:18from you
30:19or the other
30:20way around
30:20depending on
30:21how you want
30:21to look at
30:22it.
30:22So in
30:23totality
30:23is the
30:25significance
30:26of the
30:27way it
30:29is unfolding
30:30in the
30:30Andaman
30:31Sea that
30:32has to
30:32be seen.
30:33And when
30:34you have
30:35an issue
30:35in the
30:35Himalayas
30:36a challenge
30:37in the
30:38Himalayas
30:38finds a
30:39solution
30:39at sea
30:40and specially
30:41these waters
30:42that's why
30:43is it so
30:44significant?
30:45It is
30:45of course
30:46it offers
30:46you an
30:47alternative
30:48and of course
30:48it is
30:48finally for
30:49the national
30:51leadership
30:52to decide
30:52as to
30:53what constitutes
30:54a national
30:55interest
30:56and how
30:57it is to
30:58be applied
30:58but it
30:59certainly
30:59gives you
31:00a very
31:00viable
31:01option.
31:02how would
31:03you respond
31:04to those
31:04sir
31:05especially
31:05in the
31:06political
31:06circles
31:07who say
31:07that
31:08strategy
31:09and
31:09defence
31:09is a
31:10bogey
31:11this is
31:11purely
31:12a
31:12commercial
31:13venture
31:13a 72000
31:15crore
31:16rupee
31:16commercial
31:17project
31:17to benefit
31:18just one
31:19industrialist
31:20in our
31:20country.
31:22well if
31:23someone
31:25can
31:25identify
31:27even
31:28before
31:28a tender
31:29or an
31:30RFP
31:31has been
31:31issued
31:32as to
31:33who is
31:34going to
31:35be its
31:35beneficiary
31:36I think
31:37that falls
31:37in the
31:39gambit
31:40of the
31:40nation
31:41wants to
31:41know.
31:42Then they
31:43have to
31:43come up
31:43and say
31:44how have
31:44they arrived
31:45at this
31:46formulation.
31:47Even
31:48the tender
31:48hasn't been
31:49floated
31:49the RFP
31:50hasn't been
31:50floated.
31:51And to
31:52the earlier
31:53part of
31:53your question
31:54you know
31:55in
31:57multi-modal
31:58enterprises
31:59of this
31:59nature
31:59you can't
32:00segregate
32:01that this
32:01is only
32:01strategic
32:02this is
32:02only
32:03commercial
32:03it is
32:04the sum
32:04total
32:05of
32:05what
32:06the
32:07territory
32:07is going
32:08to be
32:08delivering
32:09to you
32:09and how
32:10it impacts
32:11on your
32:12comprehensive
32:13national
32:13part.
32:14That
32:14provides
32:14an answer.
32:15You
32:15cannot
32:15segregate
32:16it
32:16silo
32:16wise.
32:17Now
32:17if
32:17you
32:18super
32:18impose
32:19the
32:20significance
32:21of
32:21our
32:22dominating
32:22the
32:23state
32:23of
32:23Malacca
32:23on to
32:25what
32:25will
32:25happen
32:25once
32:26this
32:26land
32:27bridge
32:27corridor
32:27becomes
32:28operational
32:28in a
32:29very
32:29quick
32:29time
32:29frame
32:30the
32:31same
32:3110th
32:31parallel
32:32that
32:32I
32:32spoke
32:32to
32:32you
32:33about
32:33extending
32:33it
32:34eastwards
32:35if
32:35you
32:35extend
32:36that
32:36westwards
32:37now
32:37it
32:38passes
32:39smack
32:39along
32:40the
32:4010
32:41degree
32:41channel
32:41segregating
32:43the
32:43enderman
32:43group
32:43of
32:44islands
32:44from
32:44the
32:45Nicobar
32:46group
32:46back
32:46in
32:47the
32:47center
32:47so
32:47now
32:48you
32:48are
32:48dominating
32:50two
32:50features
32:51the
32:51Malacca
32:52strait
32:52and
32:52the
32:5310th
32:54channel
32:54parallel
32:55and
32:55in
32:56effect
32:56you
32:57are
32:57now
32:57that
32:58entire
32:58traffic
32:59between
33:00Indo
33:00and
33:01Pacific
33:02is
33:02now
33:03become
33:04a
33:04jugular
33:05which
33:06not
33:06on
33:07being
33:07severed
33:07on
33:08even
33:08the
33:09slightest
33:09pressure
33:10being
33:10applied
33:10there
33:12can
33:12cause
33:13unbearable
33:13pain
33:14on
33:14both
33:14ends
33:15to
33:15many
33:16many
33:16and
33:17if
33:17you
33:17want
33:17a
33:18live
33:18example
33:18of
33:18it
33:19just
33:19look
33:19west
33:19what
33:20would
33:20you
33:20say
33:20to
33:21those
33:21who
33:21say
33:21that
33:21this
33:22is
33:22not
33:22a
33:22tragic
33:22project
33:23it's
33:23only
33:23a
33:23commercial
33:24project
33:24and
33:25that
33:25pristine
33:26rainforest
33:27you
33:28know
33:29thousands
33:30and
33:30thousands
33:30of
33:31trees
33:31some
33:32dating
33:32back
33:32to
33:32300
33:33400
33:33years
33:33and
33:34I've
33:34seen
33:34some
33:35of
33:35those
33:35trees
33:35they're
33:35magnificent
33:36they will
33:37be
33:37massacred
33:38here
33:39you'll
33:40find
33:40that
33:40all
33:40of
33:41those
33:41opposed
33:42to
33:42the
33:42project
33:44are
33:44citing
33:45that
33:45you
33:45know
33:45so
33:45many
33:46trillion
33:46teas
33:46are
33:47being
33:47filled
33:47and
33:48GNI
33:48will
33:48become
33:49bald
33:49and
33:50so
33:50and
33:50so
33:50forth
33:52and
33:52all
33:53that
33:53diatribe
33:54at
33:54the
33:54end
33:54of
33:55it
33:55ends
33:55with
33:56the
33:56sentence
33:56that
33:56we
33:56are
33:57not
33:57opposed
34:01responsibly
34:01and
34:02in
34:02a
34:03sustainable
34:04manner
34:05not
34:05one
34:06of
34:06them
34:07not
34:07one
34:08of
34:08them
34:08will
34:08identify
34:09that
34:09with
34:10the
34:10vast
34:10wisdom
34:11and
34:11knowledge
34:11of
34:11which
34:12they
34:12are
34:12the
34:12repository
34:13what
34:13is
34:14this
34:14responsible
34:14and
34:15sustainable
34:15figure
34:16is
34:16it
34:1680%
34:17forest
34:17cover
34:18is
34:18it
34:1870%
34:19forest
34:19cover
34:19none
34:20of
34:20them
34:20have
34:20any
34:20answers
34:21for
34:21that
34:21because
34:22the
34:22interest
34:22is
34:22not
34:23the
34:23number
34:23of
34:23trees
34:23or
34:24the
34:24project
34:24it
34:25is
34:25to
34:25oppose
34:26what
34:27in
34:27the
34:31interest
34:31now
34:31coming
34:32specifically
34:32to
34:33the
34:33number
34:33of
34:33trees
34:33issue
34:35in
34:36we
34:37have
34:3894%
34:39forest
34:39cover
34:40the
34:41richest
34:41in
34:41the
34:42country
34:42of
34:42all
34:42the
34:42states
34:43and
34:43uts
34:45for
34:45the
34:46GNI
34:46project
34:47of
34:47that
34:47just
34:48about
34:491.8%
34:51is being
34:52considered
34:53for
34:53diversion
34:54so
34:54that
34:55means
34:55it
34:55will
34:55still
34:55leave
34:56you
34:56with
34:5692
34:57point
34:57something
34:57something
34:58percentage
34:58still
34:59the
34:59highest
34:59in
35:00the
35:00country
35:01and
35:02the
35:02number
35:03of
35:03trees
35:03that
35:03are
35:04being
35:04felt
35:05firstly
35:05to
35:05the
35:06extent
35:06possible
35:06the
35:06forest
35:07department
35:07has
35:08identified
35:08only
35:09the
35:09degraded
35:10ones
35:10but
35:11they
35:12are
35:12more
35:13than
35:13compensated
35:14through
35:14compensatory
35:15afforestation
35:16but
35:17in
35:18degraded
35:19forest
35:20areas
35:20so
35:21in
35:21actual
35:21fact
35:22there
35:23is
35:23the
35:23tree
35:24cover
35:24is
35:24not
35:24being
35:25denuded
35:25at
35:26all
35:26in
35:27fact
35:27the
35:28areas
35:30which
35:30are
35:30not
35:30heavily
35:31forest
35:31are
35:31actually
35:31benefiting
35:32through
35:33the
35:33process
35:33of
35:33compensatory
35:34afforestation
35:35in
35:36Andaman
35:36and
35:36Nicobar
35:36because
35:37the
35:37allegations
35:37are
35:38a
35:39forestation
35:40in
35:40Haryana
35:41will
35:41not
35:41help
35:42the
35:43ecosystem
35:43of
35:44Nicobar
35:44No
35:45No
35:45No
35:45I
35:45mean
35:46who
35:46will
35:46want
35:47to
35:47do
35:47compensatory
35:48afforestation
35:49in
35:49a
35:50landscape
35:50which
35:51already
35:51has
35:5192%
35:52forest
35:52cover
35:52The
35:53compensatory
35:54afforestation
35:55has to
35:55be done
35:56in
35:56forest
35:56deficient
35:57areas
35:57and
35:58within
35:58our
35:58country
35:58there
35:59are
35:59states
36:00which
36:00are
36:00less
36:00than
36:0010%
36:01forest
36:01cover
36:03lower
36:03is
36:04it
36:04prescribed
36:05that
36:06you
36:06do
36:06compensatory
36:07afforestation
36:08after
36:09chopping
36:09off
36:10a
36:10tree
36:10on
36:10that
36:11tree
36:11trunk
36:11then
36:11and
36:12there
36:13it
36:14is
36:14exactly
36:15aligned
36:15to
36:15what
36:15is
36:16permitted
36:17in
36:17our
36:17existing
36:18regulatory
36:19framework
36:19where
36:20compensatory
36:21afforestation
36:21has to
36:22be done
36:22in
36:22areas
36:23which
36:23do
36:23not
36:23have
36:24the
36:24requisite
36:24amount
36:25of
36:26forest
36:26cover
36:26I mean
36:27why
36:27would
36:27you
36:27want
36:27to
36:28do
36:28compensatory
36:28afforestation
36:29in
36:29an
36:29area
36:30which
36:30already
36:31has
36:31the
36:31richest
36:32green
36:32cover
36:33in
36:33the
36:33entire
36:33country
36:34you
36:34are
36:34the
36:34longest
36:35serving
36:36lieutenant
36:36governor
36:37of
36:37Andaman
36:38and
36:38Nicobar
36:39if not
36:39the
36:39entire
36:40country
36:40correct me
36:40if I
36:41am wrong
36:41you know
36:42Andaman
36:42and
36:42Nicobar
36:43like the
36:43back of
36:44your hand
36:44because
36:44you have
36:44served
36:45there
36:45as
36:46a
36:46naval
36:46officer
36:47as
36:47Andaman
36:48and
36:48Nicobar
36:48commander
36:49as
36:49CNSU
36:50chief
36:50of
36:51naval
36:51staff
36:51you know
36:51that
36:51area
36:52so you
36:52would
36:52know
36:53which
36:53islands
36:53have
36:53tribes
36:54which
36:54islands
36:55have
36:55tribes
36:55that
36:56cannot
37:01been
37:02displaced
37:02not
37:03this
37:04has
37:04been
37:04said
37:05elsewhere
37:06it
37:06has
37:06been
37:06said
37:07inside
37:08the
37:08parliament
37:08and
37:09outside
37:09not
37:10one
37:10tribal
37:11is
37:11going
37:11to be
37:11displaced
37:12not
37:13one
37:14in this
37:15entire
37:15project
37:15in this
37:16entire
37:16project
37:17this
37:17has
37:17been
37:18clarified
37:18repeatedly
37:19but
37:20the
37:20canards
37:20that
37:20are
37:21being
37:21spread
37:21the
37:22misinformation
37:22disinformation
37:23campaigns
37:24that
37:25have
37:25been
37:25launched
37:28the
37:29other
37:29aspect
37:30is
37:30you
37:31know
37:31these
37:32clearances
37:34now
37:35if
37:35you
37:35if
37:36you
37:36analyze
37:37this
37:37entire
37:37set
37:38of
37:38objections
37:39let
37:40us
37:40say
37:40by
37:41majority
37:41of
37:42these
37:42self
37:43appointed
37:43experts
37:44who
37:44spring
37:45up
37:45overnight
37:45they
37:46have
37:46never
37:46been
37:46heard
37:46of
37:46elsewhere
37:47they
37:48come
37:48out
37:48of
37:48anonymity
37:49and
37:50they
37:50will
37:50revert
37:51back
37:51to
37:51anonymity
37:54all
37:54these
37:55objections
37:55can
37:55be
37:55cited
37:56in
37:56two
37:56silos
37:57the
37:58first
37:58one
37:59let
37:59us
37:59call
37:59it
37:59the
38:00substantial
38:02aspects
38:03for
38:03the
38:03green
38:03aspects
38:04which
38:04will
38:04relate
38:05to
38:05forest
38:06clearance
38:08your
38:09CRZ
38:09clearance
38:10wildlife
38:10clearance
38:11so and
38:11so forth
38:12or the
38:12due process
38:13was not
38:13followed
38:14in giving
38:14those
38:14clearances
38:15I will
38:15cover
38:15and the
38:18second
38:18one
38:18will
38:19cover
38:20procedural
38:20aspects
38:21Egram
38:21Sabha
38:22met
38:22did
38:22not
38:23meet
38:23forum
38:24was
38:24there
38:24quorum
38:25was
38:25there
38:25this
38:26signature
38:26etc
38:26so that
38:27is the
38:27second
38:27part
38:28of it
38:29now
38:29so far
38:30as the
38:30first
38:30one
38:30is
38:30concerned
38:31and if
38:32you
38:33analyze
38:34every
38:35large
38:36scale
38:36developmental
38:37project
38:38take
38:38the
38:39Tehri
38:39Dam
38:39scheme
38:40take
38:41the
38:41Sardar
38:42Sorover
38:42project
38:43goes
38:43through
38:43exactly
38:44these
38:44kind
38:44of
38:45stages
38:45certain
38:47activists
38:48and
38:48self-appointed
38:49experts
38:50prop up
38:51in exactly
38:52the same
38:53manner
38:53they start
38:53spreading
38:54canards
38:55that whole
38:55hit side
38:56will collapse
38:57whole state
38:57will sing
38:58all tribal
38:59populations
39:00will become
39:01extant
39:01so on
39:02so forth
39:03and at
39:04the end
39:04of the
39:04day
39:05the matter
39:06gets raised
39:07in the
39:07media
39:08it gets
39:08raised
39:08inside
39:09parliament
39:09out of
39:10the
39:10parliament
39:10and finally
39:12in matters
39:12of this
39:13the final
39:14arbiters
39:14are the
39:15courts
39:15then it
39:16goes to
39:16the courts
39:17and now
39:18if you look
39:18back
39:19at both
39:20of these
39:20projects
39:21all those
39:22people have
39:22gone back
39:23to wherever
39:23they came
39:24from
39:25look at
39:26the benefits
39:27both the
39:27states are
39:28growing
39:28by way
39:29of
39:29hydroelectricity
39:30by way
39:31of employment
39:32generation
39:32by way
39:34of prosperity
39:34of the
39:35people that
39:36were being
39:36forecast to
39:37have become
39:37extinct
39:38the tribal
39:39populations
39:40that were
39:40not removed
39:42who were
39:42relocated
39:44with very
39:45generous
39:45compensation
39:46packages
39:46look at
39:47their prosperity
39:48look at
39:48the employment
39:50growth in
39:51that area
39:51and the
39:52project has
39:52benefited
39:53not that
39:54but several
39:55neighboring
39:55states
39:56Rajasthan
39:57Madhya
39:57Pradesh
39:58even
39:58Punjab
39:59the other
39:59day
39:59is drawing
40:00irrigation
40:01water
40:01from the
40:02project
40:02so all
40:03that is
40:03history
40:04now
40:04so the
40:05point I
40:05am trying
40:05to make
40:06is all
40:06of these
40:07mega
40:07projects
40:08go through
40:09this kind
40:09of in our
40:10democratic
40:11setup
40:11where everyone
40:12you know
40:12there is
40:13FOE
40:13everyone has
40:14the right
40:14to come
40:15out of
40:15the woodwork
40:16and right
40:16become
40:16a
40:19environmentalist
40:19expert
40:20people who
40:20can't
40:21spell
40:22environment
40:22start writing
40:23op-ed
40:24etc.
40:25so we
40:25will go
40:25through it
40:25so now
40:26coming back
40:26to the
40:27initial
40:27part of
40:27it
40:28so all
40:29of these
40:29stages
40:30went through
40:30and at
40:31the end
40:31of it
40:31they went
40:32to court
40:33in 2024
40:34to the
40:35NGT
40:35now it
40:36is not
40:37as if
40:37that we
40:38go to
40:39NGT
40:39put up
40:40I think
40:40NGT
40:40yeah okay
40:41cleared
40:41it took
40:42us two
40:42years
40:43in February
40:44this year
40:45after due
40:47diligence
40:48microscopic
40:49examination
40:49list of
40:51observations
40:51that had
40:52to be
40:53liquidated
40:53was the
40:54clearest
40:54given in
40:55February
40:55and that
40:56again is
40:57with certain
40:58stipulations
40:58whilst going
41:00forward with
41:00the projects
41:01we have to
41:01ensure so
41:02many aspects
41:03which we
41:03will
41:03so these
41:04are the
41:04processes
41:05all of
41:07that all
41:07of those
41:08conditions that
41:09have been
41:09laid down
41:10so in a
41:10manner of
41:11speaking
41:12it continues
41:14to remain
41:14a court
41:15monitored
41:17project
41:17where the
41:18progress
41:18will be
41:19monitored by
41:19them
41:20on the
41:20condition
41:21am I to
41:21understand
41:22and since
41:22you understand
41:23national security
41:24much better
41:26than most
41:27that there is
41:28a sustained
41:28campaign to
41:30stall the
41:31Andaman Nicobar
41:32project by
41:32hook or by
41:33crook
41:33is that the
41:34point you're
41:34making
41:35absolutely
41:36where can
41:36be a doubt
41:37on that
41:38why would
41:39anybody be
41:40doing that
41:40what is your
41:41understanding
41:42I am very
41:42sure that
41:43you and
41:44your perspective
41:45you will
41:46know the
41:46answers to
41:46all of that
41:49but the
41:49project will
41:50go through
41:50it will go
41:51through
41:51it is
41:51proceeding
41:52smoothly
41:53whatever
41:54issues
41:54the other
41:55aspect
41:55which I
41:56told you
41:56the
41:56regulatory
41:57one
41:57you know
41:58gram sabha
41:59how many
41:59members
41:59that is
42:00still in
42:00court
42:00so we
42:01can provide
42:01our
42:01answers
42:02there
42:03and at
42:03the end
42:03of it
42:04and this
42:04is not
42:05local to
42:06Andaman's
42:06it is
42:07in every
42:07mega project
42:08within the
42:09country
42:09and globally
42:10if you
42:11take any
42:11project
42:12there are
42:13people who
42:13are opposing
42:14it
42:14there are
42:15courts
42:15who become
42:15involved
42:16so we
42:17are going
42:17through
42:18those
42:18liver
42:19pangs
42:19as it
42:20were
42:20So let
42:21me for a
42:21moment
42:22play the
42:22devil's
42:23advocate
42:23and request
42:24you for a
42:25moment to
42:26be a
42:27Chinese
42:28navy
42:28general
42:29if you
42:30were a
42:30PLA
42:31navy
42:31admiral
42:32what would
42:33your reading
42:34be of the
42:35great
42:35nicobar
42:36island
42:36project
42:37and a
42:38huge
42:39aircraft
42:40carrier
42:40unsinkable
42:41aircraft
42:41carrier
42:42being in
42:42that region
42:43what does
42:43it mean
42:44for China
42:44let me
42:46leave that
42:47PLA
42:48navy
42:48admiral's
42:49response
42:50to
42:50others
42:51it is no
42:52longer my
42:53position to
42:53respond to
42:54those
42:54but they
42:55would be
42:56apprehensive
42:56about it
42:57absolutely
42:57absolutely
42:58absolutely
43:00because their
43:01movement would
43:01constantly be
43:02monitored whether
43:03it's coming out
43:04of Malacca
43:05strait or
43:05Lombok or
43:06Sunda
43:06you a
43:07little while
43:08ago
43:08whereas
43:09earlier
43:11geographically
43:12you were
43:12dominating
43:13the state
43:14of Malacca
43:15now with
43:16moment this
43:17realignment
43:17takes place
43:18and it's not
43:19going to take
43:20many years
43:20it will happen
43:21very very
43:22quickly
43:22the entire
43:24traffic
43:24through the
43:2610th parallel
43:26which will
43:28include in
43:29south China
43:29sea upward
43:30northward
43:30it will include
43:31Taiwan
43:32Japan
43:33the two
43:34Koreas
43:34China
43:35Vietnam
43:37Cambodia
43:38Laos
43:39majority
43:39of the
43:40traffic
43:41from
43:41Malacca
43:41strait
43:42would get
43:42diverted
43:42here
43:43it is much
43:44shorter
43:45some
43:45estimates
43:46say it
43:46is shorter
43:47by a
43:48thousand
43:48kilometers
43:49it saves
43:49three days
43:50sailing
43:50so you
43:51can
43:52calculate
43:52the repercussions
43:53of that
43:54so this
43:54entire
43:55traffic
43:55would get
43:56then
43:57spread
43:58across
43:58the
43:59Bayh
43:59Mangorg
44:02and that
44:02is why
44:03we need
44:03bigger
44:03presence
44:04from the
44:046th degree
44:05channel
44:05onwards
44:05from Malacca
44:06state
44:06onwards
44:07till the
44:0710th degree
44:08channel
44:08and who
44:09sits
44:10astride
44:10this entire
44:12stretch of
44:12water
44:13Indian
44:13navy
44:13or India
44:14the ANN
44:15islands
44:16north to
44:18south
44:19by setting
44:20it virtually
44:21at right
44:22angles
44:23so that
44:24is the
44:24analogy
44:25I gave
44:25you earlier
44:26of the
44:26jugular
44:27and as
44:27far as
44:28this area
44:28is concerned
44:29the entire
44:30shipping
44:30from
44:31Europe
44:32and Africa
44:33through
44:34Asia
44:34to
44:35southeast
44:35Asia
44:36will
44:36travel
44:36through
44:37waters
44:37that
44:37Indian
44:38navy
44:38or
44:39India
44:39hopes
44:39to
44:39dominate
44:40or
44:40influence
44:41currently
44:42the traffic
44:44through
44:44Black
44:44state
44:45alone
44:45is
44:45estimated
44:46to be
44:46around
44:46a
44:47lakh
44:47ships
44:47a
44:48year
44:481 lakh
44:49ships
44:49every
44:49year
44:50the
44:51only
44:51traffic
44:52transiting
44:52from
44:53the
44:53Indo
44:53side
44:54to
44:54the
44:54Pacific
44:55which
44:55is
44:55not
44:55using
44:57these
44:57channels
44:57would
44:58be
44:58the
44:58ones
44:58that
44:59is
44:59destined
44:59absolutely
45:00for
45:00the
45:00southern
45:00countries
45:01perhaps
45:01Australia
45:02maybe
45:03New Zealand
45:04things like
45:05that
45:05everybody
45:05has to
45:06travel
45:06through
45:06here
45:07that is
45:08the
45:08pattern
45:08and
45:09they
45:10will
45:10want to
45:10birth here
45:11they will
45:11want to
45:12birth here
45:12they will
45:13want to
45:13use this
45:14as
45:14transshipment
45:15they will
45:15have that
45:16option
45:18like the
45:19example
45:19I gave
45:19you
45:20earlier
45:20Bangladesh
45:20yeah
45:21I mean
45:22it
45:22may work
45:23and see
45:24the other
45:24point
45:25that you
45:26raised
45:26earlier
45:26and I
45:27provided
45:27that
45:27Bangladesh
45:28answer
45:29to
45:30the other
45:31thing
45:31it did
45:31engage us
45:32for a
45:32while
45:33the question
45:34that you
45:35know
45:35there is
45:35this
45:35port
45:36and there
45:36is
45:36that
45:36port
45:36and all
45:37what
45:37will
45:37be
45:37the
45:38viability
45:39commercial
45:39viability
45:40and after
45:41a lot
45:41of discussion
45:42the decision
45:42was taken
45:44that the
45:44best decision
45:45would come
45:46from the
45:46market
45:46itself
45:47what are
45:48the market
45:48forces
45:49saying
45:49so let
45:50us float
45:50an UI
45:50an expression
45:52of interest
45:52it was
45:53floated
45:5514
45:55major
45:57consortiums
45:57I won't
45:58name them
45:58they are
45:59available in
45:59the public
46:00including
46:01four European
46:02ones
46:04I think
46:04two or
46:05three
46:05Scandinavian
46:06ones
46:06jumped into
46:07the phrase
46:07and said
46:07you want
46:08to do
46:08it
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